SECTION 8.06. PUBLIC MEETING REQUIREMENT.

   (a)    This section shall be construed to require Wooster City Council and Wooster City boards and commissions to take official action and to conduct all deliberations upon official business only in open meetings, unless the subject matter is specifically excepted.

   (b)    As used in this section:

      (1)    "Public body" means the Council, any board, commission, committee, or similar decision-making body of the City of Wooster.

      (2)    "Meeting" means any prearranged discussion of the public business of the public body by a majority of its members.

   (c)    The minutes of a regular or special meeting of any such public body shall be promptly recorded and open to public inspection. The minutes need only reflect the general subject matter of discussions in executive sessions authorized under division (e) of this section.

   (d)    Every public body shall, by rule, establish a reasonable method whereby any person may determine the time and place, in advance, of all regularly scheduled meetings and the time, place, and purpose of all special meetings.

   (e)    The members of a public body may hold an executive session for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters:

      (1)   To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of any public employee or official, or the investigation or review of charges or complaints against any public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual (whether elected or appointed), unless the public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing;

      (2)    To consider the acquisition and/or development of property for public purposes; or for the sale, lease, or other disposition of public property if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest;

      (3)    Conferences relating to litigation or threatened litigation or matters that may result in litigation or threatened liability to the City;

      (4)    Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment;

      (5)    Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or regulations or state statutes;

      (6)    Specialized details of security arrangements where disclosure of the matters discussed might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing, or avoiding prosecution for, a violation of the law;

      (7)    Following a public hearing by an appeals board or equalization board, such board may meet in executive session with members of that board only, to consider the evaluation of sworn testimony, make written findings of fact and prepare a written opinion on the appeal.

   (f)    A resolution, rule, or formal action of any kind is invalid unless adopted in an open meeting of the public body. A resolution, rule, or formal action adopted in an open meeting that results from deliberations in a meeting not open to the public is invalid unless the deliberations were for a purpose specifically authorized in division (e) of this section and conducted at an executive session held in compliance with this section.

(Amended 11-2-10)